Choose a hosting company

Choosing a hosting package can be a bit of a headache. Here are a lot of criteria to consider when making your decision: the location, windows or linux, shared or dedicated, free web hosting, blog platform and research.

The place

Many Europeans are tempted to get a web host in the United States where you can get some pretty good deals, but as someone who has web hosting both abroad and in my own country, I can advise you to go with a web host in your country. The customer experience you get is much better, especially since their working hours are day to you so you can solve a problem in the morning and get it resolved within a few hours, instead of waiting for them to come to the office.

Linux or Windows?

Linux servers are always cheaper, so if the cost is a problem, go with Linux. Apache Linux servers often come with php and mysql preinstalled, giving you a rather powerful set of tools if you want to develop your site to something bigger that requires the use of a database. The advantage of joining a Linux server is that such extensions are actually free to install, so web hosts will often provide them by default or at the very highest rate you receive a very low set fee, but you do not have to worry about software fees. If the cost is not such a problem, my advice would still be with Linux because more than two thirds of the servers are actually Linux so you can find more online support for them if you do not specifically know how to use Windows tools like ASP and do not want to learn a new language php.

Shared or dedicated server?

If its your first damn in web hosting and youre not entirely sure how to create a website or how to market it, then a cheaper shared server is probably the best option. However, if you have a good idea of what you are doing, you have a marketing campaign to drive traffic to your site or you have plans on several other sites, a dedicated server that serves as your hosting hosted hosting or serving as a shared hosting hub for everyone Your websites are the solution.

Research your web hosting company

Before logging in with a hosting company, check them. Enter their name and review the first pages with results on Google to see what problems people have had with them and more importantly, how these issues have been addressed. The decisions character is that all servers will go offline from time to time, but how a hosting company deals with this is crucial: The basics you should look for is an online helpdesk with a ticketing system and a phone number if things really get wrong.

Domain Name

If possible, get your domain name from your web host. I know you can save a few dollars by going elsewhere, but then you need to figure out how to target it to the right server, which could be your first barrier when setting up your site. If you do not know what youre doing, choose the easy way and get them from the same company. Even if you get them on separate occasions, a mouse click should be enough to target the domain name to your server, as opposed to tracking down the DNS numbers and so on.

Why not a free host?

Whether paying for web hosting or not a choice based on your server requirements. If you plan to use any type of serverside technique, such as URL redirection, php, MySQL, you need a web host. However, if you put a lot of pages together for your family to see, a simple html website hosting the free web space provided by your ISP should be enough thats what my cousin does and it works quite well.

I just want a blog

There are really 2 pages on each website: design and content. If youre happy to use a design tool without focusing on content, you can use the free blogging tools available from many companies, from MySpace to Blogger. If you want to start with a design tool without having to customize it, its worth getting your own server and installing an application management software like Wordpress or Joomla. This way you can quickly configure your site, but you will be able to change the look as you learn how to customize the templates and maybe even do your own. And of course, if you want to design your website from the start, as Ive done here, you want your own server.

Privacy Policy

Please note we may provide content or links from or to other web sites through our web site. This privacy policy does not apply to these other web sites and we recommend that you review the privacy policy at each web site to determine how that site protects your privacy.

The Information We Collect

We do collect web site usage information from visitors to our site. This information is used for statistical purposes and helps us to evaluate how visitors use and navigate our web site including the number, frequency and length of visits to each page. We are then able to improve and further develop the web site.

For security reasons we use software programs to monitor network traffic and identify any unauthorized attempts to change or upload information, or damage the system.

We collect personal information when you request services from us. Generally we will tell you why we are collecting information when we collect it and how we plan to use it or these things will be obvious when we collect the information. When we collect personal information such as your name, email address, telephone number it will usually be for the purpose of providing goods or services that you have requested and if the law requires us to, we will seek your consent to collect it. We may share your information with other companies within Australia for the purpose of providing goods or services that you have requested.

We also keep records of communications such as requests. We do this to make sure your requests and any issues you bring to our attention are attended to promptly and correctly.

Our Use of ‘Cookies’

‘Cookies’ are pieces of information that our web server transfers to your computer’s web browser for administrative reasons. Cookies do not personally identify people, rather they identify a computer, server and type of web browser. A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive, pass on computer viruses, or capture your e-mail address or any other personally identifiable information. The information within the cookie is encrypted.

You can adjust your computer browser settings so that you are informed when a cookie is being placed on your browser. You can also set your browser to decline or accept all cookies.

The only cookies used on this website are for tracking purposes with Google.

Access to Personal Information

You have a right to access most personal information we hold about you and if we deny access in some circumstances we will tell you why. You may be required to put your request in writing for security reasons. We reserve the right to charge a fee for searching for, and providing access to, your information.

Your Information on the Public Record

There are numerous public records, such as birth certificates, judgments and orders, naturalisation records, ownership registrations patents and trademarks to name but a few. The Trade Marks Act, Patents Act, Designs Act and Plant Breeder's Rights allow public access to certain documents.

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions in relation to privacy, please contact us using our online form at [email protected]

Changes to Privacy Policy and More Information

We may need to change our privacy policy to take into account new laws, technology or changes to the way we provide our services. We will post any changes on the website or notify users by other means so that our clients are always aware of the information we collect and how we use it.